mdisher
formerly Renegade, get used to it.
Alrighty. Tires are a very subjective subject. This post is about Metzler and their crew at the 2009 BMWMOA rally in Johnson City TN.
5 of us set out for a fun weekend of twisties in the mountains and a day at the BMW rally.
On Thursday it became clear that my buddy needed tires. His Metz Z4's were done, as most Metz go, they look great, then 100 miles later cords would be showing. So we figured we'd pick up some new shoes at the rally.
We were there early on Friday and hit the vendor area in search of new tires.
We stopped by the Metzler booth/trailer where they were busy as hell with (5) lifts going mounting up new tires.
I got to meet John Ryan who was hanging out at the booth supporting his sponsor.
Unfortunately for us they couldn't fit Kyle in until Sunday (This was Friday). Fair enough, they were busy, but we wouldn't be there Sunday. We had better things to do like ride.
So we figured there'd be other vendors and we'd check with them first. Turns out Metzler was the only game in town at the show. No Bridgestone, no Dunlop, no Michelin.
We bumped into the owner of Cycle Crazy in N.C. at the show. They had saved my *** by selling me a tire the day before. He didn't have a tire in stock to fit Kyle's RS but gladly agreed to install it if we bought it at the show.
So we headed back to the Metzler booth to buy a tire. Kyle really only needed a rear, but would buy two if that's what it took.
The conversation went like this.
Kyle: I need a tire for a 1995 RS, size, blah, blah.
Metz guy: I only have one rear, it's $220, the show special is buy a set, get the front for 1/2 off and we only sell sets.
Kyle: That's fine give me a front too.
Metz guy: That will be $320 + $80 to install.
Kyle: I just need the tires I don't need you to install it.
Metz guy: That's the only way we sell it at the show, if we can't get the labor rate to install the tires to offset the show discount, we don't sell them.
Kyle: Well, OK, but I was here a couple hours ago and you're booked until Sunday afternoon.
Metz guy: Yes, that's true...
Kyle: We're not going to be here Sunday, I just need the tires. It's now a safety issue. Please just sell me the tires.
Metz guy: I just told you if we can't get the labor to install them we don't sell them. We're not selling single tires until Saturday night.
Kyle: Dude, I _need_ a tire, I'll buy a set if that's what it takes. Sell me the tires, charge me for the labor, but I need to take them with me so I can get them mounted today or tomorrow morning.
Metz guy: No can do, you'll need to check with other Metz guy and get scheduled.
Bottom line, the wouldn't sell him a tire or even a set, even when he was willing to get boned for labor he wasn't going to be able to use.
Now in my mind, in the past there have been other vendors, and I understand 10,000 guys converging on a rally at the fair grounds. People need tires. That's why they are there.
They are also there for Advertising, building name recognition, and good will. The tire prices were MSRP, the half off the front was half off MSRP, and you had to get boned to get them installed. Fine, I get that. I remember vendors being a little better price wise in the past but not this time.
He ended up babying the bike back to the cabin and finding a better deal near the dragon.
But the whole attitude of the guy at the show was very Cheese ******* and I won't support Metzler, because of it.
5 of us set out for a fun weekend of twisties in the mountains and a day at the BMW rally.
On Thursday it became clear that my buddy needed tires. His Metz Z4's were done, as most Metz go, they look great, then 100 miles later cords would be showing. So we figured we'd pick up some new shoes at the rally.
We were there early on Friday and hit the vendor area in search of new tires.
We stopped by the Metzler booth/trailer where they were busy as hell with (5) lifts going mounting up new tires.
I got to meet John Ryan who was hanging out at the booth supporting his sponsor.
Unfortunately for us they couldn't fit Kyle in until Sunday (This was Friday). Fair enough, they were busy, but we wouldn't be there Sunday. We had better things to do like ride.
So we figured there'd be other vendors and we'd check with them first. Turns out Metzler was the only game in town at the show. No Bridgestone, no Dunlop, no Michelin.
We bumped into the owner of Cycle Crazy in N.C. at the show. They had saved my *** by selling me a tire the day before. He didn't have a tire in stock to fit Kyle's RS but gladly agreed to install it if we bought it at the show.
So we headed back to the Metzler booth to buy a tire. Kyle really only needed a rear, but would buy two if that's what it took.
The conversation went like this.
Kyle: I need a tire for a 1995 RS, size, blah, blah.
Metz guy: I only have one rear, it's $220, the show special is buy a set, get the front for 1/2 off and we only sell sets.
Kyle: That's fine give me a front too.
Metz guy: That will be $320 + $80 to install.
Kyle: I just need the tires I don't need you to install it.
Metz guy: That's the only way we sell it at the show, if we can't get the labor rate to install the tires to offset the show discount, we don't sell them.
Kyle: Well, OK, but I was here a couple hours ago and you're booked until Sunday afternoon.
Metz guy: Yes, that's true...
Kyle: We're not going to be here Sunday, I just need the tires. It's now a safety issue. Please just sell me the tires.
Metz guy: I just told you if we can't get the labor to install them we don't sell them. We're not selling single tires until Saturday night.
Kyle: Dude, I _need_ a tire, I'll buy a set if that's what it takes. Sell me the tires, charge me for the labor, but I need to take them with me so I can get them mounted today or tomorrow morning.
Metz guy: No can do, you'll need to check with other Metz guy and get scheduled.
Bottom line, the wouldn't sell him a tire or even a set, even when he was willing to get boned for labor he wasn't going to be able to use.
Now in my mind, in the past there have been other vendors, and I understand 10,000 guys converging on a rally at the fair grounds. People need tires. That's why they are there.
They are also there for Advertising, building name recognition, and good will. The tire prices were MSRP, the half off the front was half off MSRP, and you had to get boned to get them installed. Fine, I get that. I remember vendors being a little better price wise in the past but not this time.
He ended up babying the bike back to the cabin and finding a better deal near the dragon.
But the whole attitude of the guy at the show was very Cheese ******* and I won't support Metzler, because of it.
:lol: 
